I just picked up a 23' 500 ABS SE when I got my full license. The past year on my permit, Ive been riding my 22' Grom SP. The 500 is perfect for my size. Enough power for me.
I got a 2022 500 SE ABS in Silver. I'm 49 years old and 5'-9 and It fits me pretty well. I put a Coffman muffler on it which is perfect and allowed me to put two full size Honda soft saddle bags on it. I installed an aftermarket Mustang seat but even with that seat my lower back starts to hurt after about 1-1/2 hours of riding (Probably My Age). I was looking to upgrade here about 4 months after buying it then I thought why, its paid off and is only $50 a month insurance with full coverage. I really do like it and it does everything I need.
I just took a very long trip with stretches of about 3 hours without stopping, and I found the stock seat did make me somewhat uncomfortable after the second hour or so, but it wasn't unbearable. I tried the Mustang Tripper seat, but I found that pushed me too far forward, so I went back to the stock seat.
Really appreciate your 500 mile review as a new rider. The points that you brought up are consistent with more seasoned test riders. When i take the NSF this fall and show for my bike i'll remember your review.. Thank you for the time and post.
I have one and love it. Pretty much back roads most of the time, but seems to handle 75-80mph trips down the interstate pretty easily. Small saddlebags and a tank bag make possible short overnight excursions. Again, I love how this bike performs. 0-60 performance is crazy fast for a 500. Ride safe, have fun.
yeah i have a small swingarm bag under my left leg (visible in the image for the kilkare woods video) from viking bags. it fits the frame on the left side perfectly. www.vikingbags.com/plain-sportster-swing-arm-bag
Hello from Germany, i went for a 3000km Trip on this beauty. The seat almost killed me, the engine instead was very reliable. Laying low on the fuel tank i reached speeds around 177km/h constantly. And i was packed, with tents and sleeping bags :). Hope you'll keep having fun, i love it! Just getting rid of the stock seat. Custom seat it's gonna be! Greetings from Berlin!
I did try the Mustang Tripper seat, but I found that it pushed me too far forward, toward the tank. I prefer the stock seat for that reason, but yeah, it's not the best seat around.
Its just like what you said, I got this far watched review like this again and again and somehow end up here, I also have the answer already too, ordered one at distributor 2 weeks ago, can't wait for the bike to arrive, and here I am leaving a comment!! What a wise man you are sir, Love your review also.
I recognize Calaveras road anywhere! ride this road all the time I have a few videos on my channel. congrats on your first bike. hope to see you on the road.
Good review! I also miss some extra power now and then, especially in highway scenarios like you pointed out. But the 500CCs does well enough with the speeds where I live. As a beginner bike I think the power band is very approachable and a great platform to build up your own rider confidence. I'm sorry you couldn't get hold of one with ABS - highly recommended and should be standard. It's been an amazing commuter and day-tripper in my experience so far. This summer I'm taking it on a 3000 km moto camping trip, and that will decide if this might be my forever-bike.
Thanks for sharing such a great review!, I have been thinking to get one but I had some doubts about the seat and the speed on highway, after your video I am convinced it will be the best option.....
Hey. I’m down in NZ and thinking about a Rebel 500 (or a Vulcan S) as a first bike and have viewed scores of YT videos on both. Needless to say, have quite a few unanswered (or conflicted) questions. This video nails it - for me at least. Thanks!
Once you have some experience you won't need a tach. It's feel and sound. If you hit the rev limiter you'll know it but my guess is you haven't. I've had my 500 for a couple of years and it will easily run 90+ all day long. It's very nimble and light but the seat does take quite a while to break into to you. I stuck with the stock seat but the "break in" was probably close to a year. It's funny hearing everyone call small displacement bikes beginner bikes. Any bike that someone started their riding career on is technically a starter bike!
@@tychomoto That's normal and we all did it but keep in mind it's not good on that p twin to lug the engine around. If the bike feels sluggish after you shift you're probably shifting too soon.You'll find that sweet spot
That bike revs till 9000 rpm it'll definitely push a lot more than you think. Don't be afraid to rev it out sounds like you haven't even touched the power band when u were on the highway. I'm 5'10 170 lbs and the rebel comfortably sat at 80 on the interstate. Had room to rev it out if I needed to pass too and it did it easily too. Maybe not as easily as a 1000cc engine but definitely easier than you think. It's got 47hp at 400 lbs it's Gunna be a quick little guy.
It's hard to get out of the mindset of what a cruiser bike should sound like, even when riding a bike with an engine that has a heritage closer to a sport or naked bike.
I always think it funny when people say a 500 cc motorcycle is, "A good little bike for beginners." We are way too testosteroned in this country. When I was growing up a 350 cc bike was a big bike. Nowadays, we compare everything to Hayabusas and Aprillia racers. Bigger is not better by default. Don't get pulled into that game.
I suppose this is in response to my saying that you'll outgrow the 300 too quickly? I don't have personal experience of that, but I did claim that as a result of conversations I've had with other people who did go for the 300 and lamented that they couldn't take it on the freeway comfortably. I agree that even 125cc is plenty for most things (as my trail 125 review attests), but most Americans live a few freeway stops away from where they work, and so it is something to keep in mind.
You possibly live in your own lil world were you can't imagine a 6ft person being comfortable on a rebel 500 but sorry to say this but big channel creators such as Bikes & Beards who is 6ft 4in rides a Honda Rebel 500 comfortably not to mention the weight limit on the rebel 500 is 400lbs so a lot of big berly people are also riding the rebel 500 comfortably.
@@antimatterhorn if you go back and listen to what you actually said before bringing up the whole mod part was " the Rebel 500 can't be comfortable for tall or big people" that part alone was the statement I was talking about. As for mods. Shit they make and sell 16in 18in ape hanger bars for the Rebel cycles via Amazon.
That’s hands down the slowest moving bike video I have ever watched.
But I quite enjoyed it.
Very chill.
I just picked up a 23' 500 ABS SE when I got my full license. The past year on my permit, Ive been riding my 22' Grom SP. The 500 is perfect for my size. Enough power for me.
I got a 2022 500 SE ABS in Silver. I'm 49 years old and 5'-9 and It fits me pretty well. I put a Coffman muffler on it which is perfect and allowed me to put two full size Honda soft saddle bags on it. I installed an aftermarket Mustang seat but even with that seat my lower back starts to hurt after about 1-1/2 hours of riding (Probably My Age). I was looking to upgrade here about 4 months after buying it then I thought why, its paid off and is only $50 a month insurance with full coverage. I really do like it and it does everything I need.
I just took a very long trip with stretches of about 3 hours without stopping, and I found the stock seat did make me somewhat uncomfortable after the second hour or so, but it wasn't unbearable. I tried the Mustang Tripper seat, but I found that pushed me too far forward, so I went back to the stock seat.
Really appreciate your 500 mile review as a new rider. The points that you brought up are consistent with more seasoned test riders. When i take the NSF this fall and show for my bike i'll remember your review.. Thank you for the time and post.
I have one and love it. Pretty much back roads most of the time, but seems to handle 75-80mph trips down the interstate pretty easily. Small saddlebags and a tank bag make possible short overnight excursions. Again, I love how this bike performs. 0-60 performance is crazy fast for a 500. Ride safe, have fun.
yeah i have a small swingarm bag under my left leg (visible in the image for the kilkare woods video) from viking bags. it fits the frame on the left side perfectly. www.vikingbags.com/plain-sportster-swing-arm-bag
I’m doing research on what first bike to get but I think I’m going to go with the 500 video helped a lot
I loved your closing statement... its a yes for sure on the rebel 500
Hello from Germany, i went for a 3000km Trip on this beauty. The seat almost killed me, the engine instead was very reliable. Laying low on the fuel tank i reached speeds around 177km/h constantly. And i was packed, with tents and sleeping bags :).
Hope you'll keep having fun, i love it! Just getting rid of the stock seat. Custom seat it's gonna be! Greetings from Berlin!
I did try the Mustang Tripper seat, but I found that it pushed me too far forward, toward the tank. I prefer the stock seat for that reason, but yeah, it's not the best seat around.
Its just like what you said, I got this far watched review like this again and again and somehow end up here, I also have the answer already too, ordered one at distributor 2 weeks ago, can't wait for the bike to arrive, and here I am leaving a comment!! What a wise man you are sir, Love your review also.
That comment made me laugh too. I am 51 and thinking this is the bike (1st one) for me.
Really nice road you are riding on! Great review and thank you for sharing the ride and information.
Thanks! This is Calaveras Rd. in the East Bay.
I recognize Calaveras road anywhere! ride this road all the time I have a few videos on my channel. congrats on your first bike. hope to see you on the road.
Good review! I also miss some extra power now and then, especially in highway scenarios like you pointed out. But the 500CCs does well enough with the speeds where I live. As a beginner bike I think the power band is very approachable and a great platform to build up your own rider confidence. I'm sorry you couldn't get hold of one with ABS - highly recommended and should be standard. It's been an amazing commuter and day-tripper in my experience so far. This summer I'm taking it on a 3000 km moto camping trip, and that will decide if this might be my forever-bike.
Thanks for sharing such a great review!, I have been thinking to get one but I had some doubts about the seat and the speed on highway, after your video I am convinced it will be the best option.....
Hey. I’m down in NZ and thinking about a Rebel 500 (or a Vulcan S) as a first bike and have viewed scores of YT videos on both. Needless to say, have quite a few unanswered (or conflicted) questions. This video nails it - for me at least. Thanks!
Once you have some experience you won't need a tach. It's feel and sound. If you hit the rev limiter you'll know it but my guess is you haven't. I've had my 500 for a couple of years and it will easily run 90+ all day long. It's very nimble and light but the seat does take quite a while to break into to you. I stuck with the stock seat but the "break in" was probably close to a year.
It's funny hearing everyone call small displacement bikes beginner bikes. Any bike that someone started their riding career on is technically a starter bike!
I haven't hit the rev limiter, and I tend to shift early anyway to keep the revs low and the ride smooth.
@@tychomoto That's normal and we all did it but keep in mind it's not good on that p twin to lug the engine around. If the bike feels sluggish after you shift you're probably shifting too soon.You'll find that sweet spot
Great video! I just gor a 500 SE, love it so far
I like the review man, I've been thinking about getting one of these as a first bike so this was pretty helpful
That bike revs till 9000 rpm it'll definitely push a lot more than you think. Don't be afraid to rev it out sounds like you haven't even touched the power band when u were on the highway. I'm 5'10 170 lbs and the rebel comfortably sat at 80 on the interstate. Had room to rev it out if I needed to pass too and it did it easily too. Maybe not as easily as a 1000cc engine but definitely easier than you think. It's got 47hp at 400 lbs it's Gunna be a quick little guy.
It's hard to get out of the mindset of what a cruiser bike should sound like, even when riding a bike with an engine that has a heritage closer to a sport or naked bike.
That road is gorgeous. Where is it?
Calaveras Rd. in NorCal.
I always think it funny when people say a 500 cc motorcycle is, "A good little bike for beginners." We are way too testosteroned in this country. When I was growing up a 350 cc bike was a big bike. Nowadays, we compare everything to Hayabusas and Aprillia racers. Bigger is not better by default. Don't get pulled into that game.
I suppose this is in response to my saying that you'll outgrow the 300 too quickly? I don't have personal experience of that, but I did claim that as a result of conversations I've had with other people who did go for the 300 and lamented that they couldn't take it on the freeway comfortably. I agree that even 125cc is plenty for most things (as my trail 125 review attests), but most Americans live a few freeway stops away from where they work, and so it is something to keep in mind.
Price? Your area.
i think i paid a little over 8k out the door, with fees and warranty. this is in northern california.
You possibly live in your own lil world were you can't imagine a 6ft person being comfortable on a rebel 500 but sorry to say this but big channel creators such as Bikes & Beards who is 6ft 4in rides a Honda Rebel 500 comfortably not to mention the weight limit on the rebel 500 is 400lbs so a lot of big berly people are also riding the rebel 500 comfortably.
I don't feel like I was so definitive about it, but I'm sure I mentioned that forward controls were an optional mod.
@@antimatterhorn if you go back and listen to what you actually said before bringing up the whole mod part was " the Rebel 500 can't be comfortable for tall or big people" that part alone was the statement I was talking about. As for mods. Shit they make and sell 16in 18in ape hanger bars for the Rebel cycles via Amazon.
@@matthewlizotte8904 lol that is not at all what i said
Pp